Machine for making and driving metallic fastenings



(No Model.)

Sheets W. s. HAMM & A. w. EATON.

Sheet 1.

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND DRIVING METALLIC FASTENINGS.

. 71:0 \A/ITNE 5555:

Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

INVENTURS! ,0, A/W h mzz- (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2" W. S. I-IAMM 8v A. W. EATON.

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND DRIVING METALLIC FASTBNINGS.

N 571,227 Patented Nov. 10, 1896.-

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. S. HAMM & A. W. EATON. MACHINE PORVMAKING AND DRIVING METALLIC PASIBNINGS.

No. 571,227; Patented Nov; 10, 1896.

No Model.)

WIT'N 5.555 5:

U 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. W.-S.HAMM & A; w. EATON. MACHINE FOR MAKING AND DRIVING METALLIQPASTENINGS. No. 571,227.

(No Model) Patented Nov. 10; 1896.

NiTEn STATES ATENT Fries.

lVILLIAM S. HAMM, OF NEWTON, AND ARTHUR XV. EATON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE STAPLE FASTENING MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR MAKING AND DRIVING METALLIC FASTENINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,227, dated November 10, 1896. Application filed April 10, 1896. Serial No. 586,909. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

- on line 6 6, Fig. 2.

Be it known that we, WILLIAM S. HAMM, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex, and AR- THUR XV. EATON, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making and Driving Metallic Fastenings, of which the following is a specification. 4

This invention relates to machines for making metallic fastenings from Wire by feeding forward the supply-wire, cutting a blank therefrom, and converting said blank into a fastener of the desired form.

The invention has especial reference to a machine organized to bend the wire blank into a staple and to drive the same into a piece of work, as shown in Letters Patent of the United States No.44c7, 681,dated March 3,1891.

The invention has for its object to provide improved wire-feeding mechanism adapted to be readily adjusted to vary the length of the wire blank, and, further, to provide improved means for simultaneously adjusting the feed mechanism and the wire-cutters to produce well-proportioned staples of different lengths.

The invention consists in the improvements which we will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figurel represents a front elevation of a machine provided with our improvement. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 represents an elevation of the side opposite that shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4E represents a section on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a section Fig. 7 represents a section on line 7 7, Fig. 2.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all of the figures.

In the drawings, a represents the supporting-frame of the machine, and 1) represents the driving-shaft journaled in bearin gs in the frame a.

0 represents the driver-bar, which is pro vided with a suitable driver (not shown) adapted to drive staples through the throat to of the machine into the work held against said throat.

The machine is provided with suitable bending devices adapted to bend a blank of wire into a staple, each staple being driven into the work by the driver. A bending mechanism suitable for use in connection with the feedroll and cutter-operating mechanism constituting the present invention is shown and described in the said Letters Patent No. etelZGSl, and as reference may be had to said patent for a full description of the operation of the forming and driving the staples we .do not show the bending devices.

cl cl, Fig. 1, represent the cutters which sever the staple-wire e, that is supplied to the machine from a reel or coil. (Not shown.) Said cutters are mounted on a carrier g, which is movable horizontally, to carry the cutters toward and from the anvil f, and is supported and guided in its movements by studs g g, affixed to the frame a. The cutters may therefore be caused to sever the wire at various distances from the anvil f. The cutter (Z is rigidly aflixed to the carrier g, while the cutter cl is affixed to a block d bolted to a slide cl", which is vertically movable on guides on the carrier g. (1 represents an arm of a bell-crank lever pivoted at d to the frame a, and bearing on the upper end of the slide CF. The other arm (1 of said lever bears against a disk (:1 on the driving-shaft, said disk having a cam d, Fig. 2, which imparts downward motion to the cutter (1 through the lever (1 cl and slide (Z once during each. rotation of the driving-shaft. A spring (1,Fig. 1, raises the cutter d and slide at and holds the lever-arm (Z against the cam 61'.

h h represent the wire-feed rolls, which are arranged to deliver the wire 6 to the cutters;

and are supported by the carrier 9. The roll h is affixed, to a shaft 77?, which isjournaled in a bearing in the carrier g, and is connected by a flexible coupling h, Fig. 3, with a shaft 7L3, journaled in fixed bearings on the frame a, said shaft h being connected, as hereinafter described, with the driving-shaft b and receiving intermittent motion therefrom, which motion is communicated through the flexible coupling M to the shaft and feed-roll h.

The flexible coupling, which may be of any suitable construction adapted to maintain an operative connection between the two shafts in any position to which the shaft 7L2 may be adjusted by the movements of the carrier g, is here shown as composed of a link 9, having vertically-arranged arms at one end engaged with blocks 16 16 on a vertical pin 10, which passes through an enlargement 13 on the shaft 7L2, and horizontally-arranged arms at the other end engaged with horizontal trunnions 12 on a block 14:, which is connected by a vertical pivot 15 with ears formed on the shaft 7L3.

The feed-roll h is mounted to rotate on a stud h, secured to a holder 7L6, which is pivoted at h to the carrier g, so that the feedroll 7L may be moved away from the feed-roll 7L to release the wire. A spring h presses the roll h upwardly and causes the rolls to properly grasp the wire. The rolls 7L h are connected by gears h h To the feed-roll-driving shaft h is affixed a ratchet 2', which is engaged by a pawl or a series of pawls i, pivotally connected with an arm 2' which is affixed to a sleeve 1', mounted loosely 011 the shaft 7L3. To the said sleeve is affixed a gear 11 meshing with a rack i secured to a holder 1', which is fitted to slide in a fixed guide a on the frame a. To one end of the holder i is pivoted at f a lever t which is oscillated on a fulcrum block or center 2' (hereinafter referred to as an important feature of our invention) by a cam-groove 2' in a disk 2' on the driving-shaft b, the said lever having at its upper end a trundle-roll 2' entering said groove. The lever i reciprocates the rack i, which oscillates the sleeve 1? and arm 2' causing intermittent rotations of the feed-rolls h 7t.

'lVe have provided mechanism for varying the position of the carrier g to increase or diminish the distance between the cutters and the anvil f, and at the same time correspondingly varying the feed movement imparted from the driving-shaft b to the feed-operatin g pawl t" to increase the feed when the cutters are moved away from the anvil and decrease the feed when the cutters are moved toward the anvil, so that the longitudinal center of the staple-blank will be over the anvil, whatever may be the length of the blank. To this end we make the fulcrum block or center i, on which the feed-operating lever oscillates, vertically adjustable in a slot 1' in said lever, so that the length of movement im parted from the driving-shaft Z) to the pawl i, and from the latter to the feed-rolls, may be varied, said movement being increased by an upward adjustment of the center 2' and decreased by a downward adjustment thereof.

For the convenient adjustment of the center i we have provided a lever 7', which is pivoted atj to the frame a, and is connected with the center 7: by means of a slide j, having a stud j, on which the center 2' is fitted to oscillate, a stud j on said slide having a block j fitted to turn on its outer end, and carsj j 011 the lever j, engaged with the block j The slide 7' is movable vertically on a guide-rod 7' affixed to the frame a. It will be seen, therefore, that movements of the lever j raise or lower the fulcrum or center 2', and thus vary the feed movement imparted to the pawl 2". The extent to which the lever j may be moved is determined by stops 7c 70 on the frame a. The lever is locked at any point to which it may be adjusted by means of a springpressed bolt m, Fig. 5, movable in thelever, and a toothed segment m, affixed to the frame a in position to engage said bolt. To retract the bolt, we provide a push-piece m movable in the handle portion of the lever j, and having a beveled inner end m bearing on a beveled face on the bolt m, so that when the piece m is pushed inwardly it retracts the bolt. A spring m normally presses the piece m outwardly.

To cause the adjustment of the feed and of the position of the cutters simultaneously with the adjustment of the feed movement, we provide a connection between the lever j and the cutter-carrier g, whereby said carrier is moved to carry the cuttersaway from the an vil f when the feed movement is lengthened, and toward said anvil .when the feed movement is shortened. Said connection comprises a slide 0, movable vertically in a fixed guide on the supporting frame, and provided with an inclined rib o, a stud 0 Fig. 4, on said slide loosely engaged with ears 0 0 on the leverj, so that movements of the lever raise and lower the slide 0, and a plate 0 attached by a bolt 0 to the carrierg, and movable with said carrier, said plate having studs 0 0, containing bearing-screws o 0 in contact with the inclined rib o, as shown in Fig. 4. lVhen the slide 0 is raised by the lever j, the rib 0 moves the carrier 9 and the cutters toward the anvil f, the same movement of the leverj depressing the center 2' and shortening the feed movement. hen the slide 0 is lowered, the rib 0 moves the carrier and cutters away from the anvil, the center i being at the same time raised to lengthen the feed movement.

The adjustable center i,varyin g the extent of movement imparted to the feed-operating pawl z", is an important feature of our invention,enabling the feed movement to be quickly adjusted while the machine is in operation, and without separating the pawl z" from the ratchet 2'. WVe therefore gain an important advantage over the ordinary type of feed-adjusting mechanism in which the pawl is held out of engagement with the ratchet during a part of its forward stroke by an adjustable shield interposed between the ratchet and pawl, the position of the shield determining the length of the feed movement. This requires an engagement of the pawl with the ratchet while the pawl is moving forward, and

as the motion of the pawl is rapid, its engagement with the ratchet is more or less uncertain, and is liable to affect the accuracy of the feed movement by feeding less than the length of wire called for by the existing adjustment. Moreover, the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet involves considerable Wear of both. By the employment of the adjustable center we keep the pawl always in engagement with the ratchet and thus obviate these objections.

\Ve do not limit ourselves to the details of mechanism here shown, and may vary the same within the limits of mechanical skill and judgment Without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Our improved feed-adjusting mechanism may be used independently of the cutter-adjusting mechanism, and may be used in amachine for making and driving straight nails instead of staples.

We claim 1. In a machine of the character specified, an adjustable wire-feeding mechanism, comprising first, a feed-roll-operating shaft; secondly, a driving-shaft; thirdly, intermediate connections between the said shafts having provisions for intermittently rotating the feed-roll shaft, said connections including an oscillatory lever, and an adjustable fulcrum or center on which said lever oscillates; and, fourthly, means for adjusting said center to vary the movement of the feed-roll shaft.

2. In a machine of the character specified, an adjustable wire-feeding mechanism, comprising a feed-roll shaft, having a ratchet, a driving-shaft having a cam, an oscillatory lever engaged with said c'a-m, a loose sleeve on the feed-roll shaft, having an arm on said sleeve carrying a pawl engaged with said ratchet, connections between said sleeve and lever, whereby the sleeve is oscillated on the feed-shaft by movements of the lever, and adjustable fulcrum or center on which said lever oscillates, and means for adjusting said center to vary the movements imparted to the sleeve.

3. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a feed-roll-operating shaft having a rachet, an oscillatory arm having a pawl engaged with said ratchet, a drivingshaft, connections between said driving-shaft and arm for imparting an oscillatory movement from the shaft to the arm and pawl, and means for adjusting the length of said movement.

4. In a machine of the character specified,

the combination of a feed-roll-operating shaft having a ratchet, an oscillatory arm having a pawl engaged with said ratchet, a drivingshaft, a lever oscillated by said shaft, connections for imparting movement from the lever to the arm and pawl, a movable fulcrum or center on which the lever oscillates, and an adjusting device connected with said center to vary its position.

5. In a'machine of the character specified, the combination of a feed-roll-operating shaft having a ratchet, an oscillatory arm having a pawl engaged with said ratchet, a drivingshaft, a lever oscillated by said shaft, connections for imparting movement from the lever to the arm and pawl, a movable fulcrum or center on which the lever oscillates, an adjusting-lever pivoted to a fixed support and connected with said center to impart motion thereto, and means for locking said lever to hold the movable center in any position to which it may be adjusted.

6. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a carrier, wire-cutting devices mounted on the carrier, and feed-rolls on said carrier, a driving-shaft, connections between said shaft and the feed-rolls for intermittently rotating the latter, said connections including a lever oscillated by the driving-shaft, and a movable fulcrum or center on which said lever oscillates,and connections between the said movable center and the carrier whereby they may be simultaneously adjustod.

7. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a carrier, wire-cutting devices mounted on the carrier, and feed-rolls on said carrier, a driving-shaft, connections between said shaft and the feed-rolls for intermittently rotating the latter, said connections including a lever oscillated by the driving-shaft, and a movable fulcrum or center on which said lever oscillates, an adjusting-lever pivoted to a fixed support, connections between one arm of said lever and the movable center, and connections between the other arm of the lever and the carrier.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of April, A. D. 1896.

IVILLIAM S. HAMM. ARTHUR WV. EATON.

Witnesses:

O. F. BROWN, A. ;D. HARRISON. 

